Connecting device for plastic encased hydrotherapy plinth

ABSTRACT

A hoist-controlled plinth, which supports a patient partially immersed in agitated water in a whirlpool tank of a hydrotherapy treatment system, is covered with a disposable, flexible watertight plastic sleeve to isolate the plinth from any contact with the water, thereby providing a barrier to the transmission of bacteria in order to prevent the various patients using the plinth from cross-infecting each other. Each end of the plastic encased plinth is upwardly connected, by a novel connecting device, to a pair of rigid suspension struts which in turn connect to the hoist. Each of the two connecting devices takes the form of a continuous, symmetrically shaped metallic rod appropriately bent so that it has a pair of parallel upright portions that embrace the plinth at support points along the plinth&#39;&#39;s side rails, and a pair of coplanar supporting portions that lie beneath and support the side rails at the support points. The rod also has a centrally-located hook-shaped portion that hooks over an associated one of the plinth&#39;&#39;s end rails to maintain the connecting device affixed to the plinth. The extreme ends of the rod lie outboard from the side rails and are eye shaped to accommodate a pair of eyes which link to the associated pair of suspension struts.

Partisan et ai.

EEK [19] Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, orFirm-James E. Tracy [57] ABSTRACT A hoist-controlled plinth, whichsupports a patient 1 Feb. M, 1975 partially immersed in agitated waterin a whirlpool tank of a hydrotherapy treatment system. is covered witha disposable, flexible water-tight plastic sleeve to isolate the plinthfrom any contact with the water. thereby providing a barrier to thetransmission of bacteria in order to prevent the various patients usingthe plinth from cross-infecting each other. Each end of the plasticencased plinth is upwardly connected, by a novel connecting device, to apair of rigid suspension struts which in turn connect to the hoist. Eachof the two connecting devices takes the form of a continuous,symmetrically shaped metallic rod appropriately bent so that it has apair of parallel upright portions that embrace the plinth at supportpoints along the plinths side rails, and a pair of coplanar supportingportions that lie beneath and support the side rails at the supportpoints. The rod also has a centrallylocated hook-shaped portion thathooks over an associated one of the plinths end rails to maintain theconnecting device affixed to the plinth. The extreme ends of the rod lieoutboard from the side rails and are eye shaped to accommodate a pair ofeyes which link to the associated pair of suspension struts.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing [Figures PATENTEUFEBI 1 1% I 3.865.104

SHEET 10F 2 FIG/I- (PRIOR ART) CONNECTING DEVICE FOR PLASTIC ENCASEI)I-IYDIROTHEIRAPY PLINTH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A patient requiringhydrotherapy treatment is usually transferred to and lowered into awater-filled hydrotherapy tank on a plinth or litter controlled by anelectrically powered overhead hoist. All of the elements and hardware incontact with the water should be sterilized beforehand so that thepatient treated will not become infected by bacteria. Hydrotherapytreatments are customarily given to burn patients and such patients areparticularly vulnerable or susceptible to infections, especially whenthe burns are severe and the patient has open wounds.

Due to the nature of its construction, the plinth itself is mostdifficult to sterilize and often times a supposedly sterilized plinthstill bears infection-causing bacteria. However, a convenientarrangement for effectively neutralizing the plinth as a source ofbacteria is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,730,176, issued May I, 1973 toRobert C. Miller, and assigned to the present assignee. In that patent,the plinth is encased in a disposable, flexible water-tight sleeve orsheath, made of plastic film, in order to completely isolate the plinthfrom any contact with a patient or with the water in the whirlpool tank.The water-tight barrier established by the plastic sleeve prevents thetransmission of bacteria between the plinth and the patient and betweenthe plinth and the water and this in turn prevents the various patientsusing the plinth from cross-infecting each other.

A conventional plinth comprises a rectangular rigid metallic frame,usually of tubular construction, across which canvas-like material isstretched to support a patient. The ends of the plinth are held by andsuspended from the overhead hoist by four rigid suspension struts orrods anchored to the frames side rails. The anchor or support points arenot positioned at the four corners of the rectangular frame, but ratherare disposed inward from the two ends, generally about fourteen inchesin from each end. By suspending the plinth at support points inward fromits extreme corners, the frames structural strength, weight and cost maybe minimized. Unfortunately, when such a conventional plinth is coveredor encapsulated with a flexible plastic sleeve, there is no way toattach the suspension struts to the plinth without punching holes in thesleeve at the support points, and this destroys the effectiveness of thesleeve as a water-tight barrier with respect to bacteria transmission.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a uniqueadapter which permits a plastic covered conventional plinth to beanchored to its suspension struts at its customary support points, andthis is achieved without puncturing the water-tight sleeve. Two of theadapters are preferably employed, each one serving as a connectingdevice for effectively interfacing and coupling an associated end of theplinth to a pair of the suspension struts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A connecting device, constructed in accordancewith the invention, is incorporated in a hydrotherapy treatment systemwherein a patient is supported partially immersed in a water-filledwhirlpool tank on an elongated plinth having a rectangular rigidmetallic frame of tubular construction and formed by pairs of coplanarside rails and end rails, the plinth being encased in a disposable,flexible water-tight plastic sleeve to prevent patientcross-contamination. In that system, a pair of rigid suspension strutsupwardly connect each end of the plastic encased plinth to an overheadhoist. The connecting device interconnects a predetermined end of theplastic encased plinth to its associated pair of suspension struts andcomprises a continuous, uninterrupted, symmetrically shaped metallic rodwhich is bent to provide a pair of parallel upright portions that areperpendicular to the plane defined by the frame and embrace the plasticencased plinth at support points along the side rails close to butinward from the plinths predetermined end. The metallic rod is alsoshaped so that it has. a pair of coplanar supporting portions each ofwhich is adjacent and perpendicular to a respective one of the uprightportions and each of which lies underneath and supports a respective oneof the side rails at its support point. A centrally-located upwardlyextending hook-shaped portion, provided in the metallic rod, hooks overthe end rail at the plinths predetermined end to maintain the connectingdevice attached to the plastic encased plinth. The metallic rod is alsoappropriately bent at its two ends to provide a pair of eye-shapedportions which lie outboard from the side rails. In addition to themetallic rod, the connecting device of the invention includes a pair ofcoupling elements, such as eyes, each of which intercouples a respectiveone of the eye-shaped portions to a respective one of the suspensionstruts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the invention which arebelieved to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appendedclaims. The invention, together with further advantages and featuresthereof, may best be understood, however, by reference to the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likereference numbers identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a hydrotherapy treatment systemconstructed in accordance with the prior art, and illustrating interalia a conventional plinth suspended from and controlled by an overheadhoist;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plinth and suspension arrangement ofFIG. 1 but modified to include a pair of connecting devices constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plinth itself as covered with aflexible, water-tight plastic sleeve and to one end of which is attacheda connecting device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the connecting devices;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane of section line 5-5 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view, partially broken away and on an expanded scale, ofone end of the plastic encased plinth;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along section line 7-7 in FIG. 6; and,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along section line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The hydrotherapy treatment system of FIG. 1includes a relatively large water-filled whirlpool tank 10 of theHubbard type, the required water agitation being effected by a pump 12that circulates the water and simultaneously injects air into it. Apatient is supported on an elongated plinth 14 which is hung orsuspended from an electrically powered overhead hoist 16 that rides on asteel trolley beam 17. Four rigid suspension struts or rods l8a-I8dupwardly connect plinth 14 to a rigid spreader bar 19 which in turnattaches to hoist 16 by means of chain 21 and hook 22. Plinth I4 has arectangular rigid metallic frame 25 formed of tubular shaped metal,usually hardened stainless steel. Because of its rectangularconfiguration, frame 25 effectively comprises a pair of parallel siderails 25a and a pair of parallel end rails 25b, all four rails beingcoplanar. The lower ends of suspension struts l8a-l8d anchor to siderails 25a close to but inward from the plinths two ends. Ordinarily,these connections are made about fourteen inches from each end and bymeans of four self-locking hooks 27a-27d that attach to eyes 28 linkedthrough holes in the side rails. Control of the electrically poweredhoist 16 is facilitated by a control box 29 having switching devicesthat may be manipulated by the operator or attendant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Attention is now directed toFIGS. 3-8 which illustrate the manner in which the hydrotherapytreatment system of FIG. I may be altered in accordance with the presentinvention so that plinth 14, when encased in a flexible plastic sleeve,may be hung from hoist 16 by the same suspension struts l8a-18d and atthe same anchor points without necessitating any puncturing of theplastic sleeve at those anchor points.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6-8, patient support is providedby flexible material 32 (preferably a plastic-coated reinforced canvas)which is stretched across and attached to metallic frame 25 by means ofplastic rope or lacing string 33. The disposable, flexible water-tightplastic sleeve or sheath for preventing bacteria transfer to and fromplinth 14 is depicted by reference numeral 35 and is preferably made oftransparent plastic film such a polyethylene. After sleeve 35 is slippedover plinth 14 (see especially FIG. 3), its ends are knotted in orderthat the plinth will be completely sealed from the water in thehydrotherapy tank. Of course, other expedients may be employed to renderthe plastic sleeve water-tight. Moreover, as will be apparent later, thesleeve ends need not be sealed and may remain open so long as those endsare elevated well above the water level in the tank. All that isnecessary is for the sleeve to present a barrier so that there is no wayfor bacteria to travel from the plinth to the water or vice versa.

With plastic sleeve 35 encasing plinth l4 and the sleeve ends knotted,connecting devices constructed in accordance with the invention may nowbe installed at the two ends of the plinth. Each connecting device(designated by the reference numeral 36) takes the form of thatillustrated in detail in FIG. 4. Basically, it comprises a continuous,uninterrupted, symmetrically shaped metallic rod 38 which isappropriately bent to have a configuration that permits the device tointerconnect one end of the plastic encased plinth to its associatedpair of suspension struts. Preferably, rod 38 constitutes quarter inchround stainless steel. Substantially the entire metallic rod 38 ispreferably covered with a relatively soft, resilient material 39, suchas sponge rubber, to avoid any possible damage to flexible plasticsleeve 35. As an alternative, rod 38 may be plastic coated.

By bending metallic rod 38 to take the shape shown in FIG. 4, it willhave a pair of parallel upright portions 38a and 38b which, when thedevice is installed at one end of plinth 14, will be perpendicular tothe plane defined by frame 25 and will embrace the plastic encasedplinth at support points along side rails 25a close to but inward fromthat end, see FIGS. 2 and 6-8. The support or anchor points will belocated at the same positions along the side rails where the strutswould otherwise directly link to the side rails in the prior artconstruction of FIG. 1. Immediately adjacent and perpendicular to eachof upright portions 38a and 38b is a respective one of a pair ofcoplanar supporting portions 38c and 38d which lie underneath andsupport respective ones of side rails 250 at the support points. A pairof coplanar, converging portions 38e and 38fof rod 38 also lie beneaththe plinth and each joins a respective one of supporting portions 38cand 38d to a centrally-located upwardly extending hook-shaped portion38g which hooks over the end rail to maintain the connecting device 36attached to the plastic encased plinth. Of course, flexible plasticsleeve 35 lies between and separates connecting device 36 and plinth 14at all points. Sleeve 35 has not been shown in FIG. 2 and is broken awayin FIG. 6 merely for illustrative purposes. The two ends of metallic rod38 are bent to form a pair of eyes 3811 and 38j which will lie outboardfrom side rails 25a. Linked to eye-shaped portions 38h and 38] arerespective ones of a pair of eyes 41a and 41b each of which in turncouples to a respective one of the self-locking hooks at the lower endsof the suspension struts.

The coupling arrangements established by the two connecting devices 36and their associated suspension struts are relatively rigid and stableand yet there is always a plastic film barrier between each device andplinth 14. It is to be particularly noted that each of the devices 36 isheld in tension by means ofthe suspension struts. In other words, thetwo suspension struts at each end of the plinth pull or bias theassociated connecting device 36 toward the middle of the plinth and thisconstant force aids in holding the device flxed in position.

In operation, a patient requiring hydrotherapy treatment is placed onthe plastic encased plinth l4 and then, by properly controlling hoist16, is moved over the water-filled tank 10 and loweredinto the water tothe extent necessary to submerge the patients body with the exception ofhis head which will be supported on a head rest orpillow, not shown. Asmentioned previously, the ends of sleeve 35 need not be sealed as shownin FIG. 3, but may simply be raised sufficiently so that they are alwayselevated well above the surface of the water. For example, as thepatient is being lowered into the tank, the sleeve ends may be dressedso that they drape over the sides of the tank. Pump 12 is energized toagitate the water. Alternatively, pressurized air may be injecteddirectly into the water. At the conclusion of the hydrotherapytreatment, hoist 16 is operated in order that the patient-bearing plinthis raised above the water level and then transferred away from the tankto permit removal of the patient. Plastic sleeve 35 is subsequentlydisposed of since it will now be contaminated with bacteria from thepatient just treated. The water, of course, is also drained and all ofthe elements in contact with the water, other than the plastic encasedplinth, must be sterilized. This would include parts of pump 12, thesubmerged parts of the suspension struts, the two connecting devices 36,and the internal surfaces of the tank. One convenient method of blockingbacteria transfer to and from the tank surfaces, without sterilizingthose surfaces, is to line the entire inside of the tank with a largesheet of flexible plastic film, as taught in US. Pat. No. 3,648,690,issued Mar. 14, 1972 to Robert C. Miller et al, and assigned to thepresent assignee. Of course, a new plastic sleeve 35 and new water willbe used for the next patient so that no bacteria can be transferred fromone patient to the next.

The invention provides, therefore, a unique connecting device thatserves as an adapter to facilitate the coupling to a hoist of aconventional hydrotherapy plinth which has been covered with a flexibleplastic sleeve, and where the plastic film separates the plinth from theconnecting device.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications as may fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a hydrotherapy treatment system wherein a patient is supportedpartially immersed in a water-filled whirlpool tank on an elongatedplinth having a rectangular rigid metallic frame of tubular constructionand formed by pairs of coplanar side rails and end rails, the plinthbeing encased in a disposable, flexible watertight plastic sleeve toprevent patient crosscontamination, and wherein a pair of rigidsuspension struts upwardly connect each end of the plastic encasedplinth to an overhead hoist, a connecting device for interconnecting apredetermined end of the plastic cncased plinth to its associated pairof suspension struts, comprising:

a continuous, uninterrupted, symmetrically shaped metallic rod which isbent to provide a pair of parallel upright portions that areperpendicular to the plane defined by the frame and embrace the plasticencased plinlth at support points along the side rails close to butinward from the plinths predetermined end, pair of coplanar supportingportions each of which is adjacent and perpendicular to a respective oneof said upright portions and each of which lies beneath and supports arespective one of the side rails at its support point,

a centrally-located upwardly extending hookshaped portion, equidistantfrom said supporting portions, which hooks over the end rail at theplinths predetermined end to maintain said connecting device attached tothe plastic encased plinth,

and a pair of eye-shaped portions at respective ends of said metallicrod and lying outboard from the side rails;

and a pair of coupling elements each of which intercouples a respectiveone of said eye-shaped portions to a respective one of the suspensionstruts.

2. A connecting device according to claim 1 in which said metallic rodalso includes a pair of coplanar, converging portions lying beneath theplinths predetermined end and each of which joins a respective one ofsaid supporting portions to said hook-shaped portion.

3. A connecting device according to claim 1 in which said couplingelements are eyes each of which links a respective one of saideye-shaped portions to a respective one of the suspension struts.

4. A connecting device according to claim 1 in which at least part ofsaid metallic rod is covered with-a relatively soft, resilient materialin order to avoid damaging the flexible plastic sleeve encasing theplinth.

1. In a hydrotherapy treatment system wherein a patient is supportedpartially immersed in a water-filled whirlpool tank on an elongatedplinth having a rectangular rigid metallic frame of tubular constructionand formed by pairs of coplanar side rails and end rails, the plinthbeing encased in a disposable, flexible water-tight plastic sleeve toprevent patient crosscontamination, and wherein a pair of rigidsuspension struts upwardly connect each end of the plastic encasedplinth to an overhead hoist, a connecting device for interconnecting apredetermined end of the plastic encased plinth to its associated pairof suspension struts, comprising: a continuous, uninterrupted,symmetrically shaped metallic rod which is bent to provide a pair ofparallel upright portions that are perpendicular to the plane defined bythe frame and embrace the plastic encased plinth at support points alongthe side rails close to but inward from the plinth''s predetermined end,a pair of coplanar supporting portions each of which is adjacent andperpendicular to a respective one of said upright portions and each ofwhich lies beneath and supports a respective one of the side rails atits support point, a centrally-located upwardly extending hook-shapedportion, equidistant from said supporting portions, which hooks over theend rail at the plinth''s predetermined end to maintain said connectingdevice attached to the plastic encased plinth, and a pair of eye-shapedportions at respective ends of said metallic rod and lying outboard fromthe side rails; and a pair of coupling elements each of whichintercouples a respective one of said eye-shaped portions to arespective one of the suspension struts.
 2. A connecting deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said metallic rod also includes a pair ofcoplanar, converging portions lying beneath the plinth''s predeterminedend and each of which joins a respective one of said supporting portionsto said hook-shaped portion.
 3. A connecting device according to claim 1in which said coupling elements are eyes each of which links arespective one of said eye-shaped portions to a respective one of thesuspension struts.
 4. A connecting device according to claim 1 in whichat least part of said metallic rod is covered with a relatively soft,resilient material in order to avoid damaging the flexible plasticsleeve encasing the plinth.